RICHMAN; POORMAN

Proverbs 13:23
Much food is in the tillage of the poor:
But there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.

This proverb, whose style can leave us perplexed, teaches us one of the cardinal dynamics of finances. Though seemingly different than Proverbs 13:22, its text reaches out to the same conclusions.

Someone told me once that days are like suitcases. Each day has the same amount of hours, but some can put more in it than others. It is the same with finances. When I was doing social world in India, people in Europe would send us support. Not having much money, we had to make do with what we had, so we used to tell our sponsors that we can ‘squeeze’ the dollar till the eagle screamed.

I presently run a gleaning ministry. I collect close-dated and non-shelveable food items from a big grocery store as well as from a meat company, and distribute them to low-income families. There is nothing wrong with these products except that maybe their shelf life is short, or that their box is slightly damaged. The sad part is that if I wouldn’t take these items, they would be tossed in the garbage. According to the dynamics of industrial marketing, it takes more time and money to sort though, in someway use and remarket these things than it does to throw them away.

The poor, because he has to make do with what he has, is more saving and resourceful. He is also less picky; therefore whatever he has seems to yield much more than the rich who is more wasteful. The rich on the other hand, destroys what is still good because of his lack of judgment, justice and appreciation. In the end, like in the parable of the talents, the Messiah will judge us, not by the amount we have, but by our faithfulness towards what had been given us. Some people also are poor because even though poor, they have a ‘champagne’ taste and behavior towards material things that cannot be supported on a ‘beer budget’. Ever though poor, they are wasteful and picky.

Another way to read this statement is: While the (industrious and God-fearing) poor man is richly nourished from the piece of ground which he cultivates, many a one who has incomparably more than he, comes by his unrighteousness down to a beggarly state, or even lower.

Let us not be guilty of waste because of a lack of judgment towards what the Almighty gives us in His goodness.

A SURE INHERITANCE

Proverbs 13:22
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children:
And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

When read in the Greek mind that dominates current western theological and philosophical perspective, this verse can easily be interpreted to endorse what is called today the Prosperity Doctrine. Again, we need to remind ourselves that we are reading a text written possibly about 3000 years ago by a person with a Semitic philosophy and an Hebrew mind. To contextually understand the spirit of this statement, we also need to remember that in the mind of the Semitic Hebrew, Scripture was not mainly a manual of healthy godly living. In the mind of those who were given charge of the Oracles of God, Scripture represented God Himself; a semantic description of His persona; a revelation of the integrity of His character which assured us that he would fulfill His promises towards us.

Whereas God can bless the ‘good man’ with wealth, wealth doesn’t determine that a person is ‘good’ and blessed by the Almighty. Also, many a wicked rich person is able to pass on their inheritance to their children. This verse therefore cannot be telling us about an equation between wealth and goodness. Rather, as we ponder on this Scripture, we are given reassurance of the promises, the One who Yahoshua called the only Good One, the Father, made to us.

Not only His chosen children will inherit, but also will their fruit in the nations. Our Father owns everything, and through the mouth of Yahoshua He said that the meek shall inherit the earth, concurring the second clause of our text today that the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

This verse is messianic. In it, Solomon saw the Messianic age of rewards, retribution and restoration. So no matter how wicked the world may become; regardless of the poverty we may suffer at times here; we can look to our Almighty father and rest assured of the full inheritance of which we already have the earnests in Yahoshua. We are assured, like King Solomon was at the beginning of his reign, that if we desire Him first, the Almighty Father will put everything in our hands.

“JUSTICE DEMANDS ANOTHER LIFE”

Proverbs 13:21
Evil pursueth sinners:
But to the righteous good shall be repayed.

The Hebraic contrast nature of Proverbs reveals the wisdom behind this statement.

As evil pursues the sinner, of he who does not walk the path of El Shaddai, so goodness pursues the righteous, he that is a faithful follower of the Master.

My wife quoted me a secular proverb the other day. It said,

‘Justice demands another life’;

I do not remember its author, but this statement is so true. Even non-believer can see that too many things go wrong in this life; too many things are left hanging and unrepaid. If we believe at least in the principle of justice, justice demands that we live another life, in order to reset the slate.

Believers know that they will live another life; it is their hope. They know that this next life, this rebirth, this resurrection, is the restoration of all things. Wrongs will be made right and all tears wiped from their eyes.

But what about sinners?

The prophet Daniel saw the end of all things and said,

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Some, will resurrect to everlasting life: the restoration of man’s former edenic state; while some, will resurrect to everlasting shame and contempt: the repayment. We see now how evil pursues the sinner, and how the righteous good shall be repaid.

Let us be part of the latter, not the former.

DESIRES VS TEMPTATIONS

Proverbs 13:19
The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul:
But it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.

From the beginnings of time desire is what has caused mankind to go astray from God. Yes, the desire accomplished brings such peace, satisfaction, rest in the soul. It also feeds that inner wicked feeling of entitlement that is so common today in western society.

The Father wants to please us his children. It is written that no goodness He will refuse to them that love him. He loves to accomplish the deep desire of our hearts just to see our faces light up the pleasure he procures us with His mighty goodness.

It all goes fine and well when our desires are towards Him in the respect and keeping of His Instruction; but most of the time, our sinful natures bends our lusts towards what the heavenly Father, in His great love, wisdom and faithfulness wants us to refrain from.

By subjecting ourselves to the Father’s Instruction, we learn to differentiate between healthy desires and sinful lusts. But only living close to and in love with Him makes us want to essentially please Him, and keeps us away from us the pull of temptation towards sinful lusts. The fools, which is one who has no respect for the Father’s Instruction, has no power to want to depart from evil, so it is an abomination for him to restrain his wicked appetites.

“Abba, Father:"

"I want to pray the prayer Your Son taught us to pray when He visited us on earth. ‘Give us this day our daily bread’, ‘ lead us not into temptation’, and ‘deliver us from evil’. Help us also to make the difference. The evil one (cursed be his name) often tricks us by promoting to us things that seem godly, healthy and wise. Help us, by a thorough intelligent understanding of your Words of Instruction not to fall for his wicked devices.

In the Name of Yahoshua Hamashiach,

I pray.”

1) READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS. 2) KEEP THESE INSTRUCTIONS. 3) HEED ALL WARNINGS. 4) FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS

Proverbs 13:18
Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction:
But he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

It is so easy to look at the world today and wonder where is God. Those who disobey His ways seem wealthy and honored while those who give regard to His Instructions seem poor and persecuted. Thus it has always been through the generations since the fall of man into sin.

But in the end, when the ‘day’ is done, when the books are opened and judgment is pronounced, what are the parameters whereby we will be evaluated? If they are the unadulterated and non-rationalized Words of the Almighty, some of us who have the habit of changing the perspective of the Word in order to make it fit our preferences may be in trouble.

Many may be surprised on that day. The prophet tells us that some will be resurrected to eternal honor and glory, and some to everlasting shame and contempt. The Master also taught us the same through the parable of Lazarus and the rich man. Lazarus who was poor in this world received his reward in the next, while the rich man who enjoyed his heaven on earth had none left ‘over there’, so to speak.

I just purchased an acoustic guitar amplifier. I looked at the instruction booklet that came with it and here is how it starts:

“1) Read these instructions.

2) Keep these instructions.

3) Heed all warnings.

4) Follow all instructions.”

Only after all these injunctions does the booklet proceed to give me the very precious safety instructions for my amp, and this only for a mechanical type of machine. Those who wrote this booklet must be used to people being disobedient.

What if I were to rationalize the instructions in the booklet and use my machine as I pleased? I would surely break it; I could also injure others and myself with it. Our bodies, life and its interactions are a much more complicated and dangerous machine than a simple guitar amp. How much more then should we respect the Instructions for it given to us by our Creator. If we do, honor awaits us in the next world; if we don’t, poverty and shame.

Let us not be fooled. We will be evaluated by the Instructions given in the Book without any of our modern rationalizations and excuses. We would therefore do well to stop reading books about the Book, and start immersing ourselves in the Book itself, and learn to:

“1) Read these instructions.

2) Keep these instructions.

3) Heed all warnings.

4) Follow all instructions.”

REVIVAL?

Proverbs 13:17
A wicked messenger falleth into mischief:
But a faithful ambassador is health.

Many appear today as messengers, prophets, revivalist, healers all claiming to be sent by God. People travel great distances, at great expenses just ‘to get some’. The wealthy, in search of atonement for their ungodly riches, sponsor these modern-day prophets, while poor widows give them their last mite. But at the end of the day, there often remains an obstinate question accompanied with a sinking feeling, something like: ‘This man/woman sure does everything claiming the name of Jesus, but deep down in my heart, I am not really sure they are from God; are they?’

Yahoshua warned us that in the last days, false prophets would come on the world scene and do things in His Name; that by such actions, they will try to deceive even the very elects. Yahoshua even foresaw that these will argue with Him blocking their entry to the final wedding feast saying, ‘haven’t we done thus and thus in Your name?’ So how do we know the difference?

I would think that the Word is pretty clear. Healing and miracles do not prove the presence of God. The devil, who was God’s right-hand man, has no scruples to copy the outward appearance of what God does in order to deceive us poor humans. What he cannot copy though, is the form and format, the heart of God’s actions. Healings and miracles from God are always a means to an end, not an end in themselves. In the Old Testament, healings and miracles are always accompanied with a declaration of faith and repentance; that is the biblical form and format. Healings and miracles without faith declaration and/or true repentance demonstrated by a life change are not from God. They are the devil’s counterfeit; religion versus true faith.

This is the difference (as observed in Hebraic etymology) between the use of the word messenger and the word ambassador in our text today. The messenger was sent by God but went and did his own thing so instead of giving the life-giving message of God he lead people to mischief. The root of the Hebrew word used for ambassador is synonym with the word ‘hinge’ one who is securely attached to its other part, in this case God, through a proper application of His Instruction.

Let us not be fooled nor deceived. Yes life is hard, but difficulty with God has an eternal reward that greatly outshines the devil’s shiny noisy counterfeit. Let us rather judge everything by a proper educated intelligent understanding of God’s will, Words and purposes.

A DESERT JOURNEY

Proverbs 13:16
Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge:
But a fool layeth open his folly.

As walking through a maze inlaid with dangerous inlets and outlets, so is our walk through life in this world, but the Word warns us of pitfalls. If we are to arrive at destination, we are to walk prudently, meaning, in the knowledge of the Word.

Baal Shem Tov, a seventeenth century sage one day said, “The forty-two ‘stations’ from Egypt to the Promised Land are replayed in the life of every individual Jew, as his soul journeys from its descent to earth at birth to its return to its source.” The Torah also mentions that God orchestrated the desert wondering of the Children of Israel to test them; to know what was in their heart, whether they would obey or not.

The desert journey revealed many temptations. There were temptations to murmur; temptations to complain; temptations to disobey; temptations with idolatry; temptations with impatience; temptations with rebellion; you name there it was. Our lives in this world seem to be full of the same temptations. As it was with the Children of Israel, our destiny is decided by the how we respond to these tests.

The prudent, acts in harmony with his knowledge of the Word, thus displaying wisdom.

The foolish acts ignorantly of it, thus spreading to all the depraved fruits of his ignorance.

Up to the second half of the twentieth century, not everyone could learn to read. Only the financially privileged or those who worked very hard could afford an education; illiteracy kept people from reading and studying the Word for themselves. Today, even though most people read and can therefore avail themselves of the knowledge in the Word, the devil found another way to keep them away from It: distraction. We are so distracted by life, by its social demands and its constant broadcast of vanity, that even though knowledge and wisdom are readily available to us, and often free for the getting, we are today more ignorant of the good advice in the Word than when people couldn’t read.

As a result, few are prudent, many are foolish.

May we not be guilty of this.

Let us lay our priorities straight; spend our time wisely and in the study of the Word that can save our soul and bring our heart to its Promised Land destination.

FAVOR FOR FERVOR

Proverbs 13:15
Good understanding giveth favour:
But the way of transgressors is hard.

Who is he of good understanding? Here is what King David, the father of our author said: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments:

Because they accepted the statutes of God, the Israelites were accounted by their contemporaries as a wise and an understanding people. Yahoshua, when he increased in wisdom, received favour with God and men. After a long doctrinal explanation on how to wisely address differences in scripture application within the Body, Paul says, he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.

It seems that the ‘good understanding’ that receives ‘favor’ is about doctrine. Good doctrine, sound practical understanding of Scripture, provides grace to its applicant. Others see it and marvel at the wisdom. God is pleased also because He loves it when we give due attention to His Words.

The Hebrew word Solomon used for ‘transgressor’ is the word ‘traitor’. Ancient Israelite culture recognized the grace and bounty of God. They also knew that their blessings were contingent on their obedience. Consequently, they considered those who discarded the commandments of God’s grace as traitors. They were traitors because they selfishly brought God’s displeasure on the whole nation.

The way of these traitors is hard because not only do they displease God, but they also displease the people around them. Israelite lifestyle was a community-based lifestyle. People worked together to make things happen. One who was in disobedience found himself alone and with very little help. That in itself was deterrent against criminal activities. Maybe our present world should learn something from the ancients.

Life in itself may be hard, as we are meant to labour for our existence. But if we live by God’s commandments, if we have a sound, well balanced, intelligent and wise understanding on how to apply His commandments, we often draw to ourselves the grace of not only God, but also of the people around us, believers and unbelievers.

This word is true and unfailable: Good understanding gives favour.

COME TO THE WATERS

Proverbs 13:14
The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

The Hebrew version of this text reads, The Torah (doctrine; instruction) of the wise man is . . . In another passage our author teaches us that counsel in the heart of man is as deep waters. The Master said, He that believeth on me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Many rivers flow. They all have sources, usually mountains. They all go somewhere, usually to the sea. On their way, to their final destination, rivers fill people’s wells, irrigate lands, and provide refreshments to weary travelers. Most early cities were built on riverbanks because water is the essence of life.

When drinking water out of a well in Samaria, Yahoshua said to the woman who served him that who ever drinks of this water will surely thirst again. He will have to return to the well and get a refill. The Samaritan woman who probably came daily to the well understood this very well. The Master offered her the waters that quench thirst once and for all. He could give her the waters that remain as a perpetual sustenance; the only waters that would free her from dependence on the human well of phony doctrines.

This water comes from Mt Zion. It is the water of life mentioned by the prophets. The water that flows from Jerusalem fills up the world with its doctrine and gives eternal life to all who drink it. Once we drink from this water, we are satisfied; our heart is at home and has found its soul mate. This is the true water of life. It is not like the water of man; there is no need to return once we’ve partaken of it, except for pleasure.

Come everyone. Why drink of the waters that do not quench. Why partake of what doesn’t satisfy. Let us not be like the dependant customers of temporary bliss that only fill the pockets of their peddlers. Come and satisfy yourselves from the waters of Zion. Let us quench our thirst for true justice, love and righteousness with the doctrine that flows from Jerusalem. Let us live by the waters of the Son of God, Yahoshua Hamashiach. Hasn’t He said, Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled?

GOD WAS SERIOUS WHEN HE SAID IT

Proverbs 13:13
Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed:
But he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

No one can keep all the commandments; at least not in a sense of obedience to all of them. Only Yahoshua has succeeded to do so. That is why the Hebrew Old Testament never uses the expression to ‘keep the commandments’ in that sense. The word it uses is ‘shomer’ meaning to ‘guard’ the commandments. We can certainly guard the Word in our heart. We can certainly fear It and give It due respect even if sometimes we fail in our obedience to it.

We may not like traffic rules. We may even feel that some of the speed or seat belt restrictions are stupid. But respecting and obeying them insures us a better chance to safely enjoy the benefit of driving. It also avoids us getting tickets. We may not always like exercising and eating healthy, but using our bodies properly ensures us a better chance to a healthier happy life. If we despise health principles, we surely bring destruction upon ourselves.

God is serious about obedience to His Word. The wood gathering Sabbath breaker had to be stoned (there is no way he could have crossed the whole camp and not be reminded of the Sabbath as he saw others around him), and Pinchas, the man who slew the two idolatrous revelers, was recompensed for his zeal by being elevated to the position of high-Priest. To say that God doesn’t mind whether we explicitly obey His Word or not is like saying that the teacher doesn’t mean if the children don’t follow instruction or that the IRS was not serious about filing and paying our taxes, nor about the way to do it.

Surely the word of our text comes to pass. Everywhere around us we see people’s lives emotionally, physically and spiritually destroyed just because of a lack of obedience to the Word of God. I seriously believe that all, and I mean all, of our social problems could be solved without spending a single penny if we gave heed and obedience to the Ten Commandments. It is a simple solution, but somehow, one that very few people are willing to adopt. The big question of the day is: why?

SUCK AT THE BREASTS OF GOD

Proverbs 13:12
Hope deferred maketh the heart sick:
But when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

LINGUISTIC NOTE: In Hebrew, the literal translation of the word ‘El Shaddai’ would be: ‘The Great and Mighty Breasted One’. The Torah has always been seen by Jews as the breasts of God. That is the origin of Paul’s expression ‘desire ye the sincere milk of the Word’. Psalms also uses the expression: ‘nursing fathers’ as a picture of a father teaching Torah to his child.

Fear not ye daughter of Zion. For you have put your hope in the everlasting God, in the Adonai of the Heaven and earth. Hath He said and shall He not do it?

It is easy when hope is deferred to start relying on fables and lies. We so much want it to come that in fear and lack of faith we start inventing the fulfillment of our hope. What was then meant to be God’s edenic gift becomes the doing of our own hands which eventually makes us sick.

Let it not be so my friend. Let us not be found like a child playing with Lego blocks, fabricating the fulfillment of God’s promises in our lives. Let us not like an imaginative writer redefine theology to fit our conscience. Let us not as an impatient people carve ourselves a definition of Him who is indefinable. Horeb and Calvary stand today as two undeniable witnesses of the unchangeable definition of the Almighty. The blood sprinkled on these two mountains sealed forever the promises of their Maker.

When the Jewish people lost their Temple in 70 C.E., their leaders thought of a way to preserve their spiritual and cultural heritage. Since they couldn’t continue the Temple rituals, they decided that reading the commandments of the rituals on their particular days would accomplish their commandment by default. Today, let us learn from the wisdom of the ancients. By default of Eden, let us live It by reading It.

We have been promised to sit on His throne with Him. So when the world gets us down; when it seems impossible to hope on, when we feel that the great final Millennial Sabbath will never come, here is what we should do. Like a lover who satisfies himself at the breast of his beloved, let us sit with Him on His throne and satisfy our hopes at the breasts of His Words. Let us nestle in His bosom by opening our books to learn everything about His promises to us. In the same faith of a child, let us put our full weight on Him of whom we know the Word of promise never to fail.

TRUE WEALTH OR VANISHING DREAM?

Proverbs 13:11
Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished:
But he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

From the Fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden, God has decreed that we should work for our substance. The Torah requires a man to work for his support. Even the Levites and the priests who benefited from people’s tithes and offerings worked at the service of the Temple and of the people. One who went bankrupt was to be helped by being given employment, even to be used as a servant if need be. Paul reiterated the principle by saying that he who doesn’t work should not eat.

Man’s markets dance at the rhythm of the whims of man. Only in a couple of years, the worth of a house has diminished to almost halt its inflated price. Shares rising at an inflationary rate fall the next day leaving its doomed investors in the dust. Like drugs, the roller coaster of man’s fluctuous market offer the make-believe high of illusionary temporary wealth, only to take it away the next day when man’s cloud of vanity disappears and gives way to the reality of true substance.

A bird in the hand is worth more than two in the bush. The only wealth we own is that which we hold in our hand in the present tense; that for which we honestly worked for. It is that true substantial wealth which is not the result of debt repayment nor dependant on fickle relative appraising. It is that wealth which is born from honest hard work earned on a daily basis.

The man in rural India who own his ox, his small rice paddy and his mud hut, is richer than he in American suburbia who lives in a house, drives a car and spends his holidays in an RV that belong to a bank who only lends him these things as long as he can keep a job that is in itself dependant on the fluctuating whims of worldwide markets.

One day, Yahoshua will return. In that day there will be a great restoration. Elements will be appraised at their true worth. On that day, mountains shall be made low and the low places shall be exalted. When all is said and done, we will discover the true value of all things. We will learn to judge and appraise according to His eternal unchanging standards.

A WORD TO THE WISE

Proverbs 13:10
Only by pride cometh contention:
But with the well advised is wisdom.

The humble man doesn’t think he has all the answers. He takes the time to counsel with others. He is well advised and balanced in his opinion. He has taken the time to do his homework. He does not go on a tangent unadvised or on someone else’s thought process. He also makes sure that he is led of Yahoshua and that he is in the right spirit. Because of all this, he is not uncomfortable with opposition and with opinions different to his own.

Let’s take a look at the prophets of old. They were simple messengers. They knew where their authority came from, so they didn’t feel like they had to push their point. They came, they delivered their message, and they left, if they could. So is the humble man. To be right does not give us license to be disagreeable. The humble man does not feel like he has to contend and make everyone agree with him in order to feel validated. He just comes, humbly and softly expresses his view and lets Yahoshua do the rest. It is the responsibility of an audience to be sensitive to what is being spoken; it is not the responsibility of the speaker to push it.

Solomon speaks of the world ‘fitly’ spoken, which is the right word, at the right time, in the right place, in the right way and by the right person. Sometimes also the right word at the right time is to say nothing at all and allow our Master to do the job.

KEEP THE CANDLES OF THE LIGHT

Proverbs 13:9
The light of the righteous rejoiceth:
But the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

The key to the imagery of this proverb is given to us somewhere else.

In another teaching our author says, 'the commandment is a lamp (candle); and the law (Torah) is light'. Jewish sages looked at it as the full light of Torah being composed of many candles; that the brightest the light was, the more it ‘rejoiced’. Also, the Hebrew text of this proverb is written in the future tense. Literally translated it would therefore read, ‘The Light (Torah) of the righteous will rejoice; but the lamp (commandment) of the wicked shall be put out. It seems therefore that this verse teaches us about our future fate according to our personal integrity towards the Word. It seems to tell us that in the end of days, when all is said and done, the righteous who has applied God’s commandments to his life will live in great light in that city where there is no sun, but where the Light of God encompasses all. But on the other hand, the wicked, who followed his own commandment will live in darkness.

The Bible is, and has always been a counter-culture book. The lifestyle it promotes is at odds with man’s depraved culture generation after generation. In this day and age, religious teachers have allegorized it so much that according to them, hardly any of its old time injunctions are valid for us. This attitude towards it started with the writings of the Church fathers of the second and third century C.E. Sad to say then, but negating the commandments (the candles) of the Light (Torah) only leads us to a living in the confusion of darkness.

In another passage, our author teaches us that the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. In other words, as we learn to follow and obey God’s Commandments in what Yahoshua coined as this ‘perverse and adulterated generation’, our lives becomes brighter and brighter, especially in the contrast of their darkness.

May our lives always be so.

THE RANSOM

Proverbs 13:8
The ransom of a man's life are his riches:
But the poor heareth not rebuke.

Linguistic note: literal Hebrew says: …the poor heareth no threatening.

The idea here is that in times of wars, civil commotion, or political upheavals, riches endangers the life of their possessors. In fortunate cases, as kings need money, they spare the rich in exchange for their support.

The poor man on the other hand has nothing to offer, so he is not even addressed; he does not hear the threatening of the powers that be. He is just transferred to slavery to his new owner.

Every principle in the physical realm has its counterpart in the spiritual realm. I am now reminded of the Words of the Master, every one which hath shall be given. In a certain way, as the wicked king spares the life of the rich to obtain his physical wealth, our spiritual wealth, which is Messiah, stays the hand of the executioner against our sins. The Master continues His statement with: and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. Also, the sinner who has not heard the threatening warnings to receive Messiah’s atonement has nothing to ransom his life. He either dies or stays in slavery at the service of sin.

As we read the words of this old book, let us continue understanding the marvelous principles of our salvation in Yahoshua.

TRUTH VS PRETENCE

Proverbs 13:7
There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing:
There is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

We judge so much by outward appearance. If a man can show the glitters, lights and colors associated with wealth we automatically assume that he is rich. We totally forget that a close look at his financial situation reveals that he owes more than he owns. We omit to realize that the repayment of his debt is dependant on the many uncertain factors that affect our economy.

The Bible teaches that when a man borrows he becomes slave to the lender. When we borrow to buy housing or a means of transportation, we work to repay the person who lent to us. In most cases it is the bank. This is why in ancient Israel, people followed the Bible’s mandate to bail family members in financial distress by employing them until they got back on their feet. Today, we enslave ourselves to the bank. Worst of all, we enslave ourselves to our greed. On the other hand, the little guy in Africa who owns his mud hut his ox and his cart owing to anyone is a free man. It is a social anomaly when a man cannot own his housing and transportation without having to first enslave himself. God did not ordain things so.

Worst than financial slavery by pretending to be rich, there is spiritual pride. It is easy for an unscrupulous person to utter all the right spiritual jargon and therewith intimidate people into false teaching and doctrines really based on ignorance. Whereas this man/woman pretends to be rich in knowledge, he/she is actually faking. And because no one likes to appear stupid, like in the famous story of the “Emperor’s New Clothes”, nobody dares to tell the ‘king’ he is actually naked.

Yahoshua, our master taught us the way to be in these matters. Actually, He didn’t teach us, He showed us. He was the One who, though He owned the cattle on a thousand hills, being the owner of all creation came down to earth and made Himself poor in order to bring us back with him. Let us not be guilty of false wealth nor of spiritual pride but follow His example. May we know how to condescend to poverty in order to bring others to the wealth of salvation.

RIGHTEOUS GIVING

Proverbs 13:6
Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way:
But wickedness overthroweth the sinner.

The Hebrew word for ‘righteousness’ in this passage is ‘tsedaka’. This word definitely means righteousness as in the sense of rectitude, but is also used as a synonym to ‘charity’ and ‘piety’. This is the way it is translated in Hebrew Bibles; I will therefore base my expose on it.

Righteousness in its religious sense can be seen as self-motivated, it can almost reek of selfishness; we practice all the right things in order to build our final reward. Sometimes our own righteous lifestyle even causes us to allow damage in our relationships with family and friends.

But charity, true charity that is, is not self-directed. It is the engine that motivates us to do something positive towards others whether we like it, or them, or not. Even if we do it with selfish motive, somebody actually gets something from it. God allowed there to be poors in the world (those who are rich in faith), but He also made sure that a big part of the righteousness of the rich was to give to the poor. He that said, Thou shalt not kill has also, within His moral code, imbedded a system of protection and provision for the poor.

The word ‘charity’ and ‘righteousness’ being synonymous reveals a principle to us. It is not enough just to give; we must also give God’s way. The ancient Hebrew way of tithing required support of the priests and Levites, of those who cared for the temple and handled the teaching of the Word. The Torah also directed the people to give directly to the poor, and required financial support of elderly parents, from whom you inherited your farm anyways. This is what the commandment to ‘honor your mother and father that you may live long in the land’ means. Yehoshua took issues against those who gave to the Temple as a cloak to not support their elderly parents. He also taught that charity and justice were the weightier matters of the Torah, as opposed to the dietary and distinction laws for example.

It even seems that in the Torah, charitable giving to others, especially caring for poor relatives even supercedes giving to the temple. In Isaiah 58 we read that a fast was to give to the poor and not turn our eyes from our own flesh. If we look at it, just the sacrificial system (the sacrifices offered because of sin) and firstfruit tithes seemed to be more than enough to feed the priests.

Giving to the poor certainly cannot buy us a place in Heaven, but with the same measure that we judge now, we shall be judged then. Sometimes the ‘boomerang’ of our actions even returns to us in this life.

LOVE AND HATE

Proverbs 13:5
A righteous man hateth lying:
But a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.

Linguistic note: The literal translation of the fist clause reads: The righteous person hates the false word…(the word ‘word’ is ‘davar’ as in : In the beginning was the Word).

With so much doctrinal differences between churches, congregations and even people, it is easy to want to desire settling for some sort of belief about things. This allows us to be able to start moving in some direction in peace and consistency. This also gives us a niche; some sort of ‘home base’ to work from. It is not bad in itself as we need to stake somewhere in order to start building our lives. Eventually, though, once the dust settles, our love for the Truth, and mostly our hatred of lies we should give us the hunger to reassess ourselves; to redefine and check if we are on the right track about things.

This is not a question of self-righteousness. It is not a proud ambitious desire to be better than everybody and having an edge on others. This attitude should be born of an undying irresistible love for the Truth of God, as well as of a violent negative allergic reaction against lies.

It is not enough for a gardener to love flowers; he must also hate weeds. The weeds of falsities in our lives make us loathsome to God and if we do not rid them from the garden of our heart, when Yehoshua comes back to gather His Bride in the end, we will come to shame.

Let not therefore be spiritually lazy. Let us be willing to constantly reevaluate our doctrine, belief and standards on certain things. Let us be always willing like Abraham, to leave the old behind and look forward into the new with no regrets for the past. Let us be new creatures daily, born again each day into the new truths He shows us from His throne. Let us daily, as we come to His Temple, be willing to lay on His altar the temporal knowledge we think we know and allow His eternal truth to birth in our hearts.

TO BE READY

Proverbs 13:4
The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing:
But the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

The Creator gave us this temporal corruptible physical world as a shadow of the eternal incorruptible spiritual one. Therefore the truths imbedded in the principles of our daily lives represent teachings of spiritual realities.

The soul of the indolent desires the good things of the world but never can attain them because they are obtained through diligent work. Forever he wishes his soul to indulge in the fatness of the land, but he can only sit and play victim for his poor lot. He blames everything from his traumatic childhood to the government just to excuse his laziness.

But whereas he excuses himself from being all he should or could be, will Yahweh excuse him?

The same works with spiritual realities, or so Yehoshua teaches us. In His discourse on millennial preparations, Yeshua compares those attending his final wedding feast to ten virgins. Those are like the ten friends of the bride found in traditional Jewish weddings. . The bridegroom always arrived at an unexpected moment in the night on a white horse to ‘rapture’ his beloved. These ‘bridesmaids’ therefore were to keep themselves alert and ready to attend the party at any time the bridegroom arrived. They were to keep their oil lamps full and trimmed so as not give black smoke. They were also there to be support, help and friends to the bride. Oh, how they wanted to be there with a part of the wedding feast. But some became indolent. They did not keep alert, awake and waiting. And worst of all, they had not gathered enough oil to last the long wait through the night. When the bridegroom arrived, he was disgusted at their lack of diligence towards such an important event, so he kept them out of the wedding party.

Even so today, the Bride, the bridesmaids, and all those to be guests at that great party are to prepare and get ready. We are to don the white robe of righteousness given to all those invited. We are to keep our wicks trimmed so our doctrine remains pure and does not emanate the black smoke of man’s erroneous teachings. Our lamps must be full of oil due to diligent faithful daily in depth study of His Words. Manna was given freely to the children of Israel, but they still had to go fetch and prepare it. Desiring without the ‘go-getting’ is vain.

May we be not found as the sluggard who desires so much, but receives nothing because of his lack of diligence.

THE WISDOM OF SILENCE

Proverbs 13:3
He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life:
But he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

Wisdom demands ponderance of thoughts and quietness of spirit.

Like the Ark in the Holy of Holies, it abides alone in the golden dark silence of the chambers of man’s heart, its silence only broken by the once yearly visit of the High priest. At that moment, this lonely furniture doesn’t even say a words; its very countenance says it all. It does not need a mighty orator to shout its precepts. It does not need a flashy show to impress mankind. It only speaks from the objects imbedded in Its heart. May we take instruction from one of the symbols given to us by the Eternal Father.

May we sit at its feet as Mary did with the Master and learn from Its silence.

But sad to say, we live in a world of noise and sounds. The loudest, most erudite fastest and smartest speaker gets the audience. He opens wide his lips and lets out corruption (the Hebrew word used for ‘openeth’ has the sense of opening the legs for fornication). They forget that their own words, the lies and corruptions that come out of their mouths is the very canker that eats their body to the grave.

They drown the world with words to their own sinking.

Let us then emulate the former. Let us learn from the lonely silent Ark who influenced and led a whole nation towards God solely by the presence of the very elements embedded It’s heart. Let us keep our lives by keeping a silence only broken when spoken through.

WORKS FROM WORDS

Proverbs 13:2
A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth:
But the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.

This verse invites us to discover a much wider concept than is revealed in the mere straight text. Jesus touched on it when He said, My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me and to finish His work. Jesus associated ‘eating’ with the work at hand for him.

Could it be then that the work that is set for us to do in life is the result of the words that come out of our mouth? Could it be that good and godly words lead us to good and godly works, and that words that transgress God’s laws lead us to violence? I would certainly think so. James mentioned it in his epistle. He said, Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

It is not about being right; it is about being wise. A self-righteous proud mouth will create conflict no matter how right it is; soft words turn away wrath.

Let us now review these parameters from the wise king and apostle and inspect our lives. Let us with sincerity and honesty examine our relationship with others. Are we ‘eating’ good or violence from the words of our mouth?

THE WISE SON

Proverbs 13:1
A wise son heareth his father's instruction:
But a scorner heareth not rebuke.

I will again bore you with a linguistic note. Every time a word is italicized in the KJV Bibles, it is meant to inform the reader that this word was added to the text in order to make it more understandable and/or smoother to the reader. As you can see, the word ‘heareth’ was added. Also, Hebrew does not use the present tense of the verb ‘to be’ (only God allowed Himself that honor in His personal introduction to Moses), it is only inferred; the first clause of this sentence therefore reads ‘A wise son is his father’s instruction’.

What a beautiful continuation to the last verse of Proverbs 12.

The father’s instruction has been given; it is now up to the son to live it. His wisdom is to live his father’s instruction. The scorning son does not heed his father reproofs, his advice towards restraint nor his doctrine; he does not hear it; he does not obey it. May we be faithful sons and act, live, and in essence be, the Instruction that God gave us in His Words.

Let us not be hearers of the Torah only, but doers.

This concept also brings out a beautiful element involving the life of the only begotten sun of the Father: Yehoshua. Ancient Hebrews knew that their Messiah was defined in their writings as the Son of God. Believing therefore that a wise son was the instruction of his father, they expected the Messiah to be the incarnation of the principles of their Torah, given by the Father At Mount Horeb.

Today, people who are ignorant of Torah principles say that Yehoshua broke Old Testaments behavior. Nothing could be further from the truth. All He challenged was the rabbinic over-zealous additions which were never prescribed anywhere in the Torah.

He said that by their traditions, they negated God’s Torah, teaching for commandments doctrines of men.

He tried to clean the Torah from the negative effects of man’s interpretive traditions.

His mission was to get His people back to God’s word.

He actually came to teach us the proper application of obedience to the commandments.

He did so because He is wise, and

‘A wise Son is His Father’s Instruction.'

LIFE OR DEATH

Proverbs 12:28
In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.

Paul the apostle tells us of those who through fear of death are their lifetime subject to bondage.

It is amazing how we are willing to spend billions of dollars in research and rehabilitation programs in order to counteract the effects of our death/sin lifestyles. It is truly astounding to realize the length to which mankind goes in order to defy the natural physical, spiritual, moral and emotional deathly outcomes that comes from living an ungodly lifestyle. Really, the solution to all our problems is very simple and given to us: if we walk in the way of righteousness, we will not reap the effects of death.

This human attitude to want to defy God no matter what so well expressed in the Poem, Invictus: ‘My head is bloody, but unbowed’, reminds me of our youth today. Many would rather leave home; suffer uncertainty, poverty and even sickness just to obtain independence from being under the roof of Mom and Dad, and having to submit to a wiser authority.

God often uses children to exemplify the attitude of parents. As a parent, I have had to learn that parental attitudes, mostly negative ones, are often magnified in our kids. Could it be that our very attitude with God is also embodied in our contemporary problems with youth?

It is true that our children have free choice and that we are not always responsible for their final choices, but if we took the time to honestly compare the way they obey us and our wishes, to the way we obey God and His wishes as expressed in His word, how would we fare? We like to absolve ourselves from the idea that we disobey God by donning Him with this man-made robe of eternal unconditional grace and forgiveness, but is it how His Word represents Him? And does the overly ‘grace’ attitude we dress God with works when it comes to parenting?

Let us use the results of the questions in this little experiment to if we are walking in obedience or disobedience, in life or in death.

EATING WITH GOD

Proverbs 12:27
The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting:
But the substance of a diligent man is precious.

Let us again delve in the cultural literary translation of the proverb; bring to light this precious nugget.

This proverb seems to work in conjunction the preceding one. In the former statement, we are told that the ways of the righteous are superior to that of the wicked. The Hebrew text of Proverbs 12:26 refers to the ‘successful ways of the wicked’, which by the contrast nature of this book implies to the poverty of the righteous. In today’s text, we see that the righteous will eat of his prey, whereas the wicked will not even roast his wealth obtained.

This proverb is millennial. Our rewards for faithful service to Yahweh will come in this life, when Yahweh reigns through Yahoshua in Jerusalem during the millennium. At that time, those who served Yahweh according to his parameters and requests have the assurance to receive of the fruit of their labor. Because they were diligent in their obedience and love towards God, they will eat of their prey. Those on the other hand who served Him in their won way because they found it too hard to obey Him in this life will not even roast that which they got; they already have their rewards

We also need to have a paradigm shift in our concept of rewards. The idea is that God’s blessings are not necessarily counted in dollars and cents in this life. If this is what we hope to get from God, we are going to the wrong person. Whereas God owns the cattle on a thousands hills, He has also given this world to be governed by the devil (Luke 4); and just like Yahweh blesses His children, the devil also blesses his.

The only reward we need to look forward to, is the same King David looked for,

I will dwell in the house of Yahweh for ever.

Anything else is a bi-product.

JUDGES OF TOMORROW

Proverbs 12:26
The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour:
But the way of the wicked seduceth them.

When a man has found the way of truth, he stands as a shining light in the midst of a wicked and perverse generation. He not only is a guide to His immediate family to lead them into all verity, but he also is recognized by others around him as a guide, as someone who has the ability to understand right or wrong. He is valued as one able to separate word of commandment form assumptive theology, and to use the word of truth with wisdom in a constructive and edifying way.

This man understands that he has been blessed with a gift from God, and he knows that all men are not endowed with the same gift. This knowledge brings him the virtue of the patient teacher who gently leads; it anoints him with the heavenly gentleness of Yahweh when He looks at us on earth.

Being a man prey to all temptations himself, like the prophet Jeremiah he compassionately prays, oh that my head were a fountain of tears. He knows the miserable plight of him who has been seduced and trapped by the enemy’s look alike theology; so he is patient with the lost, tender with the young and with those with child, and he shares the mercy and understanding that he himself has been recipient of from the Almighty El-Shaddai.

In our righteousness, let us be holy and godly guides. Eventually, in millennial times, the righteous will certainly judge the world with Yehoshua. In that day, we will learn to judge like He does ‘righteous judgments’ , not with the seeing of the eye nor with the hearing of the ear. But this time has not come yet. At present, we are all ourselves under the mighty eyes of Him who judges the earth, us included, by the words we speak and especially by how we treat others and look at them in our hearts.

By the same parameters we judge others we shall also be judged ourselves.

WHY WORRY?

Proverbs 12:25
Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop:
But a good word maketh it glad.

The literal Hebrew word used for ‘heaviness of the heart’ is, ‘worry’, which defines a bit more what we are talking about.

Not only worry will not change anything about the future, but it will ruin a very beautiful present. The late Dr. Peter Marshall, Chaplain of the United States Senate prayed this prayer at the opening of the Senate: ‘Help us to do our very best this day & be content with today's troubles, so that we shall not borrow the troubles of tomorrow. Save us from the sin of worrying, lest stomach ulcers be the badge of our lack of faith. Amen.’
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Worry is not something related to our environment, it is rather linked to a state of mind, a condition of the heart resulting from not looking to Yahweh for our protection and provision. An Indian fable says that a mouse was in constant distress because of its fear of the cat. A magician took pity on it & turned it into a cat. Immediately it became afraid of the dog. So the magician turned it into a dog. Immediately it began to fear the tiger. So the magician turned it into a tiger. Immediately it began to fear the hunter. Then the magician said, ‘Be a mouse again, you have only the heart of a mouse & I cannot help you.’ On the other hand, a French soldier in WW1 carried with him this little recipe against worry: ‘Of two things, one is certain. Either you are at the front, or you are behind the lines. If you are at the front, of two things one is certain. Either you are exposed to danger, or you are in a safe place. If you are exposed to danger, of two things one is certain. Either you are wounded, or you are not wounded. If you are wounded, of two things one is certain. Either you recover, or you die. If you recover, there is no need to worry. If you die, you can't worry.

So why worry?’

Let us now take sample from man’s best friend: the dog. A Chicago physician reports that he had to abandon the use of dogs in an ulcer research program. The dogs refused to get tense & worry, & worry & tension are prominently listed as suspected causes of ulcers. If you inflict an ulcer upon a dog by artificial methods, says the Chicago doctor, he will sit down & placidly cure himself by refusing to be bothered about anything. Let us do the same and actively refuse to worry, and cure ourselves by placidly sitting at the Master’s feet through listening to His Words.

Let us not be like the incorrigible worrier who said, ‘See how worry pays? Most things I worry about never happen’

HERE AND NOW FOR THERE AND THEN

Proverbs 12:24
The hand of the diligent shall bear rule:
But the slothful shall be under tribute.

Again, the semantic contrast of a more literal translation of the text unveils its wisdom. The Hebrew word used for ‘diligent’, is a word meaning ‘ faithful service’. This word comes in contrast not only with ‘slothful’, but also with ‘under tribute’. In other words, this proverb could say, ‘He that serves well and honestly, will become the master; but he that is of a fraudulent lazy hand, will become the servant.’

This wisdom is taken straight from the testimony of very famous Old Testament heroes. Eliazar, Abraham’s servant, obtained a very high position, even as that of potential heir, just because he served well under just Abraham. Jacob was restored to his spiritual and physical inheritance after he served well under wicked Laban. Joseph, the son of Jacob, learned from his fathers and served well under just and wicked leadership, which brought him to become Pharaoh’s right-hand man. The same could be said of many other Jewish leaders such as Daniel and Esther, who through their integrity in service were instrumental in preserving and even saving their people. These all lead to the final example of all, the example of the Suffering Servant Himself, Yehoshuah who faithfully served His Father in all things good and bad, and thus was given command of His whole creation.

And what does this teach us? Oh tell it to our youth today. Teach it to the children that a good leader is first and foremost a good follower; that a good director/manager must primarily be an example of service; that he who would lead as a foreman, learns to do so by first living the life of a faithful servant.

Haven’t we been promised at Mt Sinai that we will become kings and priests for the whole world? Hasn’t Peter reiterated this promise in his letter to thedisciples? We therefore have hope that in serving well in the capacity in which God put us in this world, we learn the skills necessary to fulfill our future roles in the next.

THE FOOL AND THE WISE

Proverbs 12:23
A prudent man concealeth knowledge:
But the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.

There is he with no knowledge, who proclaims folly through many words.
He is honest.
There is he with no knowledge, but pretends to have it through many words.
He is a fool.
There is he who has the truth, knows it and proclaims it through many words.
He is a boaster.
There is he who has the truth, knows it, and conceals till afterwards.
He is wise.

Many words do not reveal knowledge; they often just reveal a person uncomfortable with themselves and so hides behind a smokescreen of words. Our author knew about the hidden chamber where where counsel is hidden; he said in another proverb, Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

He who has the Truth needs not to prove himself. He who has the Truth needs not to justify himself. He who has the Truth can afford to be prudent with his words. He who has the Truth hides it, and like our Master with Pilate, lets himself be found.

LACK OF FAITH AND LYING

Proverbs 12:22
Lying lips are abomination to the LORD:
But they that deal truly are his delight.

The literal Hebrew text reads in the second phrase, but they who act in faith are His delight.’ Contrasts are a Hebraic way of teaching doctrinal principles. With the help of this literal translation, the contrasts of this proverb are revealed unto us to teach us its wisdom. We now have the contrast of God’s abomination with His delight, as well as the contrast of lying lips with acting in faith.

It seems that God hates most of all when after He redeems us with a great and mighty hand from our devilish oppressor; we still have a lack of faith in His ability to save. He seems to disdain it the most because this lack of faith causes us to go a-whoring after other means of help and support. I guess any husband would feel the same. If his wife doesn’t demonstrate her faith in his ability to lead and care for his family spiritually and physically, she will try to do it herself through her parents and own efforts, which of course will be discouraging to the poor husband. It is a fact that the sad dysfunctional world of today presents us with many situations where a man doesn’t take the care of his family seriously enough, but I am using the ‘ideal situation’ as means of parameters. Whereas a man may not have earned the right of respect from his wife, God certainly has shown His mighty hand to His people. Our lack of faith is so abhorrent to Him that He contrasts it with ‘lying lips’. In other words, not having the faith in God that we should have is a form of lying, which ultimately is to bear ‘false witness’ of our wonderful Yahweh, a breaking of the ‘Ten Commandments’.

The apostle Paul, who was an expert at Hebrew Scriptures, concurs this same message when he tells the Hebrew believers of the fists century C.E., without faith it is impossible to please God. How wonderful it is to reflect on the harmony of thought and doctrine between what are the called the two Testaments of the Bible. Are they really two books when they tell the same story, speak of the same God, as well as define the same parameters of the same Covenant?

THE GOOD NEWS

Proverbs 12:21
There shall no evil happen to the just:
But the wicked shall be filled with mischief.

Let us step back into history for a moment. Let us take a look at the historical background of our author. His family was very dysfunctional. His brother raped his sister, and his other brother killing the rapist and usurped his father’s throne. Our author belonged to a people whom God Himself had to rescue from slavery and sure annihilation. The short history of his country reveals a constant battle to obtain and keep their country as well as their freedom. Today, this same people, with their persecuted long history, remember the words of this proverb as a promise of God’s contract with them and of His good will towards them. It seems like an oxymoron.

How does that work?

The life of the righteous has been, is, and will always be filled with evil. If the evil referred to in the first part of this verse was the evil of bad tidings, financial problems and persecution, our author would seem to be in denial of, and out of touch with his life, background and reality. But this is not the way to look at that verse. It is not a promise that can be claimed in an attempt to convince God that He should protect us from such or such event. This verse is a statement of fact; it teaches us something that we can count on, and that is as sure and irreversible as the law of gravity.

We learn here that the just, one who has been justified by The Almighty, will never see hell; that the punishment for his sin has been paid for; that his debt has been covered. Like King David said, Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. We learn here that the devil can buffet us as much as he wants while we are in this life, but that once we enter the spirit world, we are bound back home to our Bridegroom’s house and kingdom. We are taught here that contrary to the fate of the wicked, the flames and tortures of hell will never touch he whom Yahweh has justified.

That is the Good News.

The apostle Paul tells us that Yehoshuah, our Lord delivers those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. This is the difference between the just and the wicked: for the wicked, death is the sad mournful hearse that takes him down to his eternal grave; for the righteous, it is a fiery horse and carriage that takes him up to his heavenly reward.

AS A MAN THINKS IN HIS HEART SO IS HE

Proverbs 12:20
Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil:
But to the counsellors of peace is joy.

We were originally created in God’s image, that is, in God’s character. We were made to emulate God’s virtues; be His representation on the earth; the most perfect of His creations. As the influence of sin filled us, we became less and less like Him. After only fifteen hundred years, the earth was filled with violence and all had to be destroyed except the family of one man who was said to be righteous in his generation. From the dawn of creation, the ‘image of God’ on earth has been in peril.

We were created to represent God, to think and emulate His thoughts. When we do anything else like when we imagine evil, our heart is full of the deceit of God’s enemy, from the one Yehoshuah called the father of lies. When we want to exert vengeance; when we want to solve deficit through a less that totally ‘kosher’ financial scheme; when we grudge the sharing of our increase; whenever we rationalize God’s commandments so we don’t have to obey them, we imagine sin which is evil. And when we imagine sin, evil comes out of us; and the evil that comes out of us eventually comes back to us. The evil imagined in our heart contributes to the decadence of God’s image of virtue through us, as well as of our health.

By way of contrast, this proverb teaches us that instead of moral decadence and of the onset of disease caused by the imagination of deceit, we can be a healthy copy of God with joy in our hearts. This proverbs reminds us that through the counsel of peace, that is counsel originated not from the imagination of our hearts but from that which comes through the influence of other godly people or through God’s Words, we return to the healthy image of God that we are supposed to emulate.

May we take a minute today and check our hearts. Are our thoughts towards God’s ways as taught us in His Words? Do we rationalize His commands so we, like in a cafeteria, pick and chose what we agree or disagree with in what He asks of us? As we comfort our aches with pills in time of sickness, do we avoid asking ourselves if it perhaps our ill health is the result of wrong actions, a wrong way of life or wrong thought patterns? Is the lack of peace in our hearts due to our kicking against the ‘pricks’ of our conscience, of God’s voice in us? Does He, like He did to Paul, have to cast us to the ground from our high and mighty horse, make us blind, vulnerable and at the mercy of others before we start living a life that emulates what He originally formed in us?

ABOUT TRUTH AND LIES

Proverbs 12:19
The lip of truth shall be established for ever:
But a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Our Lord and Master called Himself ‘the Truth’. He came to the world to bear witness to the Truth.

Truth, the truth from God has its own legs to stand upon. One who speaks the truth, the truth from God, does not need the help of lights and fanfares in order to impress and convince the masses. He doesn’t need the lure of charismatic educated oratory speech to convince its hearers. He doesn’t need those because the Holy Spirit in man will bear witness to what he is saying; It will bear witness for enmity or acceptance, but It will bear witness. Peace in man comes when he resigns himself to the Truth being spoken to his heart. This happens because truth, the Truth from God is a healing balm to the soul. Truth doesn’t mind being challenged.

Truth, Truth from God has its own engine fueled by God’s resources. It keeps going forever and cannot be shut down. It continues the work of convicting and feeding itself to the world until a decision is finally made. The decision is either the repentance of the hearers, or the execution of the bearers. What it will not do is leave people indifferent. Truth, the Truth from God is a catalyst for decisions.

Our Lord and Master called the devil the ‘father of lies’.

Lies are the least of our worries. They are easily recognized because they don’t stand on their own.: they need other lies to support them. They need the crutches of lights and fanfares to convince the masses. They need the lure of charismatic and educated oratory speech to convince their hearers. They need those because the Holy Spirit in man fights lies. Depression, stress, stomach ulcers, emotional and behavioral problems often happen when man accepts those lies in his heart; when he rationalizes them to convince himself that they are truth. This happens because lies are a poison to the soul. Lies resist challenge; it makes them feel uncomfortable.

Lies are temporary; they are only fueled by people’s willingness to believe them. , As long as one person believes in them, they will continue their preaching but eventually they run out of fuel and shut down of their own selves. When no one believes them, they die. They also exist as a catalyst for decisions.

When people have suffered enough under the tyranny of lies, they finally yield to the Truth. I am looking forward to that day.

ASSOCIATION THOUGH FUNCTION

Proverbs 12:18
There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword:
But the tongue of the wise is health.

This proverb gives us an awesome look into the fundamental culture of Hebraic writings: function. In the Hebraic mind, associations are made not by looks, but by functions. In this way, words are likened to either murderous weapons or healing balms.

This concept of comparison by function makes for beautiful poetry. For example the Bible, which is written with a Hebraic mind, compares anger to a ‘burning nose’, and calls the woman’s reproductive organ a ‘flower’. It calls God a ‘man of war’, compares Him to a hen who desires to gather her chicks under her wings, while at the same time calls His children made in His image ‘wild camels’ if they are rebellious and ‘sheep’ if they are docile. Yehoshua is the Good Shepherd but He is also the Lion of Judah, as well as the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world. Among other comparisons, Yehoshua is also ‘the Door, the Way and the Light of the world’. Not only He is the Oil of anointing as well as the High-Priest, but He is also the sacrifice, the Blood of atonement, the Altar and the Temple altogether.

These are the characteristics of our Master as compared with earthly elements. Here is a little game to play now. If God were to compare our lifestyle, define our virtues, character and speech with animals and objects, what would He use?

A TRUE WITNESS

Proverbs 12:17
He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness:
But a false witness deceit.

Much of the understanding of these Proverbs is hidden in the Biblical agrarian Hebraic culture. The word witness here means: the evidence of things.

Evidence proves facts through the act of seeing. Words are cheap; anyone can say the right thing, pronounce the right theology, pontificate on spiritual things, even do miracles. The crunch comes with the lifestyle. The question to ask ourselves is not, ‘Are they saying the right thing?’ but rather ‘Are they living the right thing’, “What does their lifestyle show me? Does it show me God as defined in His Word?”

Naaman, a Syrian high official mentioned in the Bible had leprosy. He was told by his young Jewish servant girl that Elijah the prophet from Israel could heal him. At first, Naaman was too proud to dip in the dirty Jordan River seven times as the prophet had prescribed; he preferred the nice clean pools of Damascus. After reluctantly obeying, Naaman was healed, and some time later appeared, healed of his leprosy, accompanying the King of Syria to the worship of their idol. What is wrong with this picture?

The people who saw him probably associated Naaman’s healing with his idolatrous worship. Yahweh healed him, but he worshipped the idol. Naaman knew it was wrong; the text of the story makes mention of his convicted spirit. How did God feel? Well, It is the same thing when we claim salvation in the name of God but then return to our old lifestyles. People cannot give glory to God and we become a false witness which shows deceit.

God doesn’t heal and save us so we can become more comfortable citizens of this world; He does it so we can belong to Him even if only for gratitude sake. Let therefore our lifestyle show the One who has truly healed and saved us from; let our lifestyle be a true witness of His love and care for mankind.

TO REPRESS, CONTAIN OR GIVE IT UP

Proverbs 12:16
A fool's wrath is presently known:
But a prudent man covereth shame.

One by one these proverbs take us through many important behavior definitions. Whether we are to be seen as foolish or wise is not defined by our words, but by our actions, by our responses and reactions to life.

In this case we are taught a principle that if applied, would save marriages, companies, Churches, and many other societal groups. It would literally lower the divorce rate if not eliminate it altogether.

In a more contemporary English, this verse could say, A careless person reacts immediately to injury, while the wise person contains and forgets it.

It is not hypocrisy to let go of an injury, to contain, even to repress the offense done to us. It is obedience to one of God’s greatest commandment. The second part of this commandment is well known, but not the first part; it is the one that says, Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am Yahweh. Leviticus 19:18

Of course, if we simply repress it within ourselves, one day it will eventually explode and cause more damage than if it had just vented right away, but this is not the kind of repressing I am talking about. I am talking about giving it as a sacrifice to the lord. A sin separates us from God. To come back near to Him we need an offering. What I am speaking about is offering a guilt offering to God for our sin of anger and grudge against our brother; taking full responsibility of it before God and pay the price for his washing our heart from it. In this way, it is not contained in the ‘old files’ cabinet for later use, but burned and consumed on God’s altar.

The only person we can change is ourself. We cannot change others neither expect them to be different. We might as live with that fact and learn to respond, not react, and give all offenses to God for his ‘consuming’.

THE WELL OF COUNSEL

Proverbs 12:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes:
But he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Many books are written, seminars given and sermons preached on the subject of the secret of success, but King Solomon, the man who once climbed to the top of the universal social ladder now reveals it to us. And what does he say? To hear (to listen to, obey and abide by) counsel. In his case, he wisely obeyed the counsel of a man of whom God had said He was please in all things but one: his father King David.

By contrast, the fool is one who defines himself and righteousness according to his own relative standards so his counsel comes from his own heart. Instead of weighing matters against the wise advice of others or even the Word, he weighs matters against his own standard. It is like a man who defines knowledge by his own brain and capacity to learn.

How foolish we are. Being creatures we claim to be able to define ourselves; and not only do we claim to define ourselves, but we argue with the very consistency of our nature. Paul rhetorically asked, Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

Let us be wise today and learn to draw good advice from the well of other’s perspective and learning; mostly from those in the Word who have gone before us and faced situations oh, so similar to ours.

THE FRUIT OF OUR LIPS

Proverbs 12:14
A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth:
And the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.

This proverb associates the fruit of the work of our hands with the fruit of our lips. Knowing the author brings it even more meaning because King Solomon was not only known to be the richest man in his days, but also the wisest man.

While on earth, a man eats of the fruit of his good work. If he is faithful in his duties and responsibilities, if he is a good manager of his goods or if he is a faithful dependable employee, he will harvest a good crop or receive a good salary; who knows, maybe even get some bonuses.

It is the same with the fruit of our lips, only with greater ramifications. Our Lord and Master taught us, ‘by your words ye shall be justified and by your words ye shall be condemned’. In essence, this proverb teaches us that in the manner that the fruit of the work of our hands determines our reward n this world, the fruit of our lips determines our reward in the world to come.

In this day and age, everybody preaches something. Many spend their time trying to influence others in doing things and believing their way. Many proud and lofty words are spoken in attempts correct, justify, change, improve, and define the world around us. There comes a time when every word whispered in someone ears will be shouted on the rooftops. There now comes of judgment according to the words we have spoken.

When that day comes, may we be proud of our words; may they have been words that bring Messiah’s righteousness on earth in people’s hearts. May we be faced with eating of the fruits of our words with confidence, knowing that they are not poisoned with humanism and worldliness. May we come with boldness to Him who fed us of the fruits of his mouth, having offered the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

SAFE LIPS

Proverbs 12:13
The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips:
But the just shall come out of trouble.

The Hebrew text of this Proverb reveals a very strong subtlety. Bear with me a moment while I try to convey it to you in English. The Semitic word used for ‘transgression’ is: ‘peshah’: transgression, revolt. Its etymological root is ‘pesh’: step, spreading, as in spreading apart of legs. Therefore this word ‘pesha’ means: transgression, or rebellion by the spreading apart of legs, by letting go of the restraints of morality. In this proverb, the particular word ‘peshah’ is used as ‘rebellion by the spreading apart of the lips’ meaning ‘ungodly reprobate speech’, thus giving the meaning of’ the wicked is snared by his own ungodly reprobate speech’.

To compare the sin of the lips with the sin of immorality seems quite appropriate. Paul teaches us that any sin is outside of the body, but that the sin of fornication is against our body. In the same way, this proverbs tells us that the reprobate ensnares his own self through the spreading apart of his own lips when he speaks, but that the just, by the keeping of what comes out of his lips, comes out of trouble.

Much of Proverbs deals with the subject of speech. The apostle James tells us that the tongue is an unruly evil enflamed of hell. Our dear Lord and Master Yehoshuah taught us that by our words we shall be justified and by our words wee shall be condemned. If sometimes we have difficulty discerning the integrity of a preacher, speaker or politicien, all we have to do is let him or her speak; they eventually will ensnare themselves in their own words.

As followers of God, to stay out of trouble, we are instructed that our words should be few; to be quick to listen and slow to speak; that our speech should be always seasoned with salt (palatable); and that as teachers, we should speak as the oracles of God (to speak only when spoken through).

GOD’S ECONOMY

Proverbs 12:12
The wicked desireth the net of evil men:
But the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.

The wicked craves the spoils of those of those who rob others, but the righteous are content with whatever they produce honestly, on their own. (Translation by Rashi)

Rightly did the Lord give us so many warnings against covetousness. Rightly did He make His Holy Instruction an antithesis to lust and covetousness. Our creator knows what we are made of; He knows that our hearts are bent towards evil. We only have to look at Leviticus 25 to understand God’s principles in economy.

God’s economy is one in which faith takes precedence over profit; Sabbaths are placed before harvests; the individual is more important than the bottom line; family heritage is prized before expansion and growth; and God is the owner of both land and human resources. In the economy of Torah, loans are made without interests, and debts are forgiven every seven years. The poor and the needy are continually at the center of concern. It is a completely different kind of approach, and one that requires a generous portion of faith and trust.

(Quotation from FFOZ Torah Club Vol. 5)

Men and women today try to lure us to their side making high and lofty promises to heal our economic woes. The only economic system that will heal our world is imbedded in the Word of the Holy Book.

Let us go back to God’s economy and behold, His blessings will return.

Turn thou us unto thee, O Yahweh, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

'GET A LIFE'

Proverbs 12:11
He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread:
But he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.

There is always a reward for he that works hard.

What is it that God has put in front of us? A field? A factory? A song? An outreach project? Children? We have the guarantee that if we get down to the brass tasks of working at it, it will yield fruits. And if it is the thing God has chosen for us to do, it will even produce sustenance.

Oh, but sometimes the fields of the Lord are tough. Most of the hard work is in the preparation. We need to rid our ‘field’ of old roots, rocks, and fallen wood. We need to even landscape it. All this seems like hard work but when the field finally yields its fruit, the rejoicing of the farmer is as that of the mother kissing her child after a hard long labour. I am now thinking of children. Today’s young minds often seem like that field, cluttered with old roots, stumps and rocks. These all need to be removed before the word of instruction can take root and grow. It is hard work to remove them, but oh, what a reward we have in the mature child, once the field of his mind has been worked on by faithful parents and dedicated teachers.

Every fruit-yielding ‘field’ requires hard work. Let us therefore not follow after the vanity of fellows who will tempt us with the false hopes of promises of fruit yielding fields that require no hard work. Those who complain about hard work need to have a paradigm change and as is said here, ‘get a life’.

We thank You Yahweh for the work load you put in front of us; we thank You and we bless You that you have hired us to work in your fields. It is a blessing and a privilege to be a part of your work force of establishing your kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. May we have the grace and strength to endure with praise and to work with courage until that perfect day comes when all things will be restored.

A GOOD SHEPHERD

Proverbs 12:10
A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast:
But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

The characteristics of a righteous person always include a personal knowledge and a compassionate understanding of others, including animals. The Hebrew text actually reads: The righteous knows the soul of his beast.

The humane society and animal activists in general should be pleased with God because a big part of His Instruction is concerning the proper and humane care of animals. Animals have to be slaughtered painlessly and beasts of burden have a right to food and to the Sabbath. God has dominion over us and we have dominion over the animals. Domesticated animals at our service are dependant on us just as we, who live in God’s house, are dependant on His bounty mercy and care. In ancient days, when people were close to their farm animals, a farmer knew that a well taken care of and loved animal would be more docile and productive.

How unlike the wicked who mercilessly kills and devours man and beast for his own pleasure. His mercies (Hebrew text: feelings) are cruel because they are self-centered. He does not give his life for his friends; rather he gives his friends for his Iife. His dominion is not tempered with mercy and he runs his animal to the ground.

A spiritual leader is compared to a shepherd. Sheep are dumb and man-dependant. How fitly then is the gaging of righteousness by our attitude towards animals. A shepherd of God’s people has to bring in the law, the rules; he has to expect productivity and obedience as per the Word, but he also has to temper the wind for the shorn lambs and gently lead those that are with young; carry the lambs in his bosom. A shepherd is to know the state of his flock; how can he lead them otherwise if he doesn’t know their needs and problems, the issues troubling them in their souls?

As parents also and as teachers, we fall in the same categories as pastors and need to apply these same virtues on Yahweh’s flock.

FINANCIAL PEACE AND FREEDOM

Proverbs 12:9

He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.

In the ancient world, the sign of financial resolve meant you had a servant. If you could not afford a servant you were poor. Our verse today hits at the proud hypocritical appearance of financial wealth and solvency in front of others while in reality, we are starving. The Latin Vulgate translations reads:¨“Better is the poor man who provides for himself, than the proud who is destitute of bread.” The Hebrew text reads: Better is the lowly one who serves for his keep (as of: serves himself because he doesn’t have a servant) than the pompous one (one who has servants) yet lacks bread.

I have spent many years as a missionary in poor countries of Eastern Europe, the Middle East, S.E. Asia and the Pacific. People may poor, but those who buy a house buy it cash. Those who buy a car come to the dealer with their briefcase full of bills. Once they buy it, they own it and no one can claim it from them for unpaid mortgage or payment. It is theirs. When I came to America, I thought everybody was rich. I remember a friend of mine who was a man with several children. He had a job sorting parcels at the post-office while his wife had a day-care in her house. I thought they were rich because they had a house, nice furniture, a brand-new van of the latest model and they seemed to be able to afford a comfortable life-style. It impressed me until I learned that he was 50,000$ in debt (not counting his mortgage payments). It is then that I realized that his apparent wealth was just a boast, that I actually was richer than him because I owed nothing to no-one.; because what I had, however little it was, was mine.

Later my friend went bankrupt and had to downscale his lifestyle.

Much of the financial problems people face today is because they want to appear to have a life-style they cannot afford. They drive a brand-new Jaguar when technically, they can only afford to drive a second-hand Ford. Their lifestyle is a pretence and for the sake of pride, they sacrifice their lives, their freedom, their faith and even their children on the altar of their own vanity. What a shame.

To pretend to be of a certain standing when we are not is lying.

It is lying to ourselves and to others.

May God deliver us from the notion of evaluating our worth by the things we own, by the clothes we wear and by the lifestyle we can afford.

The true values of the Kingdom of Heaven are love, mercy, faith, honesty, and our wealth of personal dedication and obedience to God’s Words.

May the Truth, the Truth of the knowledge and continuance in Yahweh’s Words set us free, free from the lies, and from the bondage of the vanity in the world around us.

CHOICES

Proverbs 12:8
A man shall be commended according to his wisdom:
But he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.

What are we to commend a man for? Physical strength? Charisma? Charm? Handsomeness? Intelligence?

A man’s spiritual maturity is defined by the things he admires; by the things he has a high regards for and gives priority to. Does he care mostly for sensual things, carnal things? How does fare in the day of ‘hard choices’? Is he easily ticked by vanity? Is his conversation mostly shallow? Does he yield to pride? Does he feel the need to boast in order to make himself important in the eyes of others? On the other hand, a man’s spiritual maturity is also defined by his friends, those who seek his presence. Does he feel comfortable in the presence of the proud, shallow and foolish? In turn, do they feel comfortable around him?

Our media today, and even our system honors the shallow, the proud and the vain. These are given the honor and glory that in ancient days were onlyu given to kings. They are called ‘stars’ and ‘idols’, and rightfully so. They have become the object of venerations of many who spent their lives and money on these new gods who live their lives in abject wealth and perversion, all for the adulation of a crowd mostly consisted of vain, shallow, young and immature people.

But whom will God reward in the Day of Judgment? Our author says it: a man shall be commended by his wisdom; he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised. To define perversion, we must first define wisdom. The wisdom implied here is the wisdom of living a life seeking to please God; striving to emulate His virtues; of living a life that glorifies the Maker of us all and what He is all about. By contrast therefore, ‘perversion’ in this text is to rationalize God’s virtues so much in our heart that we end up living a life that dishonors Him who gives us our daily breath.

A life of perversion, the earthly crowds cheer; a life of wisdom, the heavenly crowds cheers; and we are the ones who choose.

THE PROMISE

Proverbs 12:7
The wicked are overthrown, and are not:
But the house of the righteous shall stand.

The history of believers testifies to this statement. By all means, faith in God should have been destroyed long ago but yet, it is not.

Abel, the first man of faith, was killed by his brother Cain. Seth the third son of Adam and Eve his parents, succeeded him. Seth continued in faith while his older brother Cain continued in crime. Fifteen hundred years later, the lineage of Seth is miraculously saved from a worldwide flood though the obedience of Noah in building an ark after God’s command. Around 2000 BCE, when God wanted to show Himself to mankind, He did it through one man: Abraham, whose wife was barren. Rebecca, his son Isaac’s wife whom he married at the age of sixty, was also barren. When Isaac and Rebecca finally had children, Esau the older threatened to kill the younger one Jacob who then fled from his home and crossed the desert by himself. After finding work at the house of Laban, a distant relative, Jacob married Laban’s two daughters, as well as their servants. These marriages gave him twelve sons through whom the believer’s race would be preserved.

This is only the beginning of the story. Through the offspring of Jacob, the world was to discover its God (John 4:22), so the enemy of God had to do everything he could to destroy them. Four hundred years later a Pharaoh decrees that the children of Jacob should not live. He orders all their male offspring thrown in the Nile. When God hears the cry of His oppressed children, He carries them on His wings to a land He had chosen for them. For fifteen hundred years, that land was built, destroyed, rebuilt, occupied and destroyed again several times, until finally, in 165 CE the Roman Empire evacuated every Jew from Israel and renamed it Palestina, after the name of their arch-enemies: the Philistines. In the meantime though, through the children of Jacob, God’s great purpose was accomplish: the birthing of the Messiah which would introduce the whole world to the God of the Torah, thus creating more believers.

From the times of their dispersion in the world until today, the seed of Jacob should have been exterminated not only though centuries of ruthless persecutions, but also through natural assimilation. Yet, it lives on. It lives on because God has a plan. God has established that in the end of days, the feet of Messiah will come and touch down on the Mt of Olive; that from Jerusalem He will rule the world with a rod of iron for a millennial sabbatical. At that time, all those in the world who believe in His words and all those who are faithful to His commandments will be reunited in peace forever. Yes, the wicked is truly overthrown, while the house of the believers, the house of Yehoshua the Messiah, the Righteous truly stands..

THE WORDS OF LIFE

Proverbs 12:6
The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood:
But the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

Wars, cultural changes and even personal changes always start with words. Much is said about words in the Bible because words conceive in our hearts the ideas that motivate our actions.

In any sphere of society, before any major push in any direction, we are first ideologically trained with the input of words. Before the onset of any war, country’s leaders condition their people with propaganda that will win the support of their citizens. Today, because the digitalization of publishing technology, words are easily spread, ideas easily disseminated. We live in a giant ‘Super Wall-Mart’ of ideas and philosophies where our heads are dizzied with too many choices.

We must guard our hearts and carefully shop our ideas and philosophy. Just like food in the supermarket may seem good, sweet and soft to the taste buds while destructive to our basic body structure, so are ideas. They may seem good, but their real goal is to trap us into their deathlike culture; ideas that are out for our blood. We may now turn to the health section of our giant supermarket. Some food there appears to be good but it costs a fortune, and even though you may pretend to, you really don’t understand all the big words on the label.

The best way is to leave the supermarket altogether. The righteous words that deliver us from this death trap are not sold on shelves competing with the words of the wicked. Musing on our supermarket analogy, I would say, “Go to the source; go to the land where the food is grown by God”. Deliverance from the destructive words and ideas of the wicked is found in the words of the upright. They are found in the words in the Bible, and in those people who live a life loyal to its principle; in those people who did not accept their godliness to be soiled by marketing practices.

Let us go back to the Source: to the True and Righteous One, Yehoshua who has the Words of eternal life, not death.

TO WHOM SHALL WE GO

Proverbs 12:5
The thoughts of the righteous are right:
but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.

In these days of relativism, there seem to be a difficulty in defining the righteous from the wicked. Humanism attempts to denigrate Godly values of in our heart in order to glorify our own form of religion based on personal virtue and sense of morality. The ‘golden calf’ of our own attempts to define God according to our own senses and views seems to have succeeded where it had previously failed.

When Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth, he chided them for bringing their personal disputes to the city’s secular judges. He aimed at making them wonder how they could think that the Word of God ignorant judges of Corinth could rightly solve their issues. This practice was totally against the principles ingrained in the people of Israel who were taught to only bring their issues to be solved by people who were familiar with the Laws of God. Paul said that it would be better to let go of the issues and be defrauded rather than have the people of the congregation of God go to the ungodly for ‘justice’. I Corinthians 6.

Our author today puts things back in their place so we know now who to go to for advice. He tells us that only the righteous has right thoughts, while the thoughts of the wicked are deceit.

In our day of trouble, why should we go to the wicked? Why should we go to him who has forsaken God for advice? For where he is going we will also end. His counsel is not in God, but is birthed from his own hellish heart. As he think in his heart so is he, so why should we partake in the hellish lot of the liars?

In our day of trouble, this we must do: enroll people in our life who are righteous, whose heart is in God, for where they are going we will also end. We must engage people who fear God, people who know and obey His commandments and thus partake in the joyful lot of the righteous.